November Team Member of the Month: Michelle

Michelle is a Client Care Specialist at Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex and is one of the first cheery, helpful voices you will hear when you call us. She has been employed with Avondale since 2005. Michelle has 2 Beagles, "Peanut" and "Pistachio", who according to Michelle are the Best Beagles Ever!

In her free time she enjoys reading, skydiving and spending time with her husband, three children and 2 grandchildren. 

Halloween Pet Safety

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.

3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you. 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/halloween-safety-tips.aspx

October Team Member of the Month: Dr. Christopher Groos

are proud to honor Dr. Christopher Groos has our October Team Member of the Month! Dr. Groos joined the Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex team in July of 2004. He is a graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and has a special interest in feline and canine dentistry. He also sees general medicine cases and enjoys surgery. Dr. Groos has studied international publick health and has pursued additional education not only in dentistry, but ophthalmology and dermatology as well. Dr. Groos actively participates in the American Veterinary Medical Association, is a former board member for the Angel's Wish Animal Rescue Organization. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Jen, daughter, Hannah and son Henry. We are happy to honor Dr. Groos this October!

Team Member of the Month: Libby

We are proud to announce Libby as our September Team Member of the Month! Libby is one of the Animal Caregivers at the Avondale Pet Resort. She has been with the Pet Resort since the fall of 2011. Libby enjoys everything about caring for

the dogs and cats at the Pet Resort! She has "Gibbs" who is an English Setter; "Zeva" who is an English Setter; "Maverick" who is a Lab/Heeler cross; her cats, "P.J.", "T.J." and "O.J"; Mini-Donkeys "Skittles", "Tootsie", "Muffin" and "Cookie" and a host of chickens and pigeons. In her free time Libby shows pigeons, loves gardening, and raising and showing Iris. Both Libby and her husband, Kelly, are animal lovers. Her husband works at the Blank Park Zoo. We are grateful to have Libby on our team!

Pet Obesity

Is your pet overweight? We recommend keeping your pet on a healthy diet, and exercising them regularly to prevent weight issues from developing. It’s important to give your pets only healthy foods that are a part of their own diets—human fo

od is strictly discouraged because so much of it can be dangerous for our pets! Exercise such as daily walks for dogs, and regular playtime for dogs and cats are a definite must to keep your pet healthy.

Did you know that your cat should be in to see us once a year all their life, and sometimes twice a year when they’re over seven years of age? Today is National “Take Your Cat to the Vet” Day—if your cat is due for a visit with us at Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex, call and schedule one today. Regular visits can help your cat live longer, because we can identify and treat problems sooner.

Pets & Over-the-Counter Medications

It’s important to keep your medicines out of your pet’s reach at all times, because human medication can be toxic to your pets! When your pet feels sick or is acting under the weather, never give them a human medicine, but bring them in for veterinary care instead. Even if you mean well, a dose of human medicine could be fatal to your pet.